Aruba, a small Caribbean island 29 km north of Venezuela, is a part of the ABC islands - Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, which form the Dutch Caribbean and is a part of the Netherlands. It is famous for its white-sand beaches.
Where to stay
Aruba Downtown is very far from the impressive beaches in the northwest. Choose a hotel/resort/Airbnb near the world-famous Eagle Beach or Palm beach. Public transport consists of a bus that takes 5.2 US$ on a single ride and runs almost once an hour. Taxis, just like everything else, on the island, are expensive.
Things to do
Island tour - on a Jeep or a UTV. We did the Jeep Safari tour, whose highlights were an animal garden, Arikok national park, and the natural pool.
Animal Garden - we did this as a part of Safari, but if you are not doing that, it is worth checking out the animal farm on its own.
Scuba Diving - Mangel Halto beach is famous for Scuba diving. It has both rich flora & fauna as well as a shipwreck.
De Palm Island - I didn’t do this experience since I was going Scuba. But if you aren’t, then this could be an excellent half-day trip.
Butterfly Garden - I skipped it since I was going to the animal farm. But if you aren’t, then this might be an excellent short trip for a few hours.
Notes
- Given its location, the island is hot year-round. The island is semi-arid due to the low rainfall.
- Sunlight is strong in Aruba, so do carry a hat, sunscreen, and skin creams to keep yourself safe. Everything is imported and expensive.
- Aruba is more famous among American tourists, while Europeans usually go to Curacao.
- Tap water is potable (drinkable) everywhere, thanks to the massive investments in desalination plants.
- English is widely spoken. English + Spanish would give you 100% coverage, though.